Hydrangea plant named `Frau Kinue`

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea macrophylla (Thunb.) named `Frau Knue` which originated as a seedling from the inventor&#39;s controlled hybridization of the Hydrangea macrophylla cultivars `Crystal` and `Silver-Edge` and is distinguished from its parents by the unique pigmentation pattern which gives a fleur-de-lis-like appearance to its florets. Sepal color of `Frau Kinue` is approximately one half white with blue or pink pigmentation beginning at the base of the sepal and fading to white as it progresses across the length and width of the sepals. Color is deepest at the base of the sepals. The sepals of `Crystal` are uniformly blue and the sepals of `Silver-Edge` are uniformly red with a white edge. The new variety `Frau Ki nue` further possesses the favorable charactertistics of a compact growth habit, long lasting large flowers on a sturdy peduncle, and ability to be easily forced in a greenhouse for flowering in the spring.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of theSaxifragaceae family. The botanical name of the plant is Hydrangeamacrophylla (Thunb.). The varietal denomination is `Frau Kinue`. The newcultivar originated as a seedling from the inventor's controlledcrossing as pollen and seed parents, respectively, the varieties knownas `Silver Edge` and `Crystal` in Tochigi-Prefecture, Japan. `FrauKinue` was discovered and selected as one flowering plant within theprogeny of the stated parentage in a controlled environment. This newcultivar has been successfully asexually reproduced by vegetativecuttings under controlled environmental conditions at a commericalnursery in Tochigi-Prefecture, Japan, under the direction of theinventor over a ten year period from 1986 to 1996, with itsdistinguishing characteristics remaining stable.

`Frau Kinue` is distinguished from its parents and all other varietiesof Hydrangea of which I am aware by the pigmentation in its sepals whichis approximately half white and half colored with the color radiatingout from the base of each sepal near the center of the floret to give afluer-de-lis-like appearance to the florets. Sepal color of `Frau Kinue`is white with blue or pink pigmentation. Sepal pigmentation ofindividual Hydrangea macrophylla plants depends on the nutrients and pHof the growing medium. The unique pigmentation pattern which gives thenew cultivar a pink and white, or blue and white, flower is created bythe sepals being colored at the base near the center of the floret andwhite at the edges. The base of the sepals near the center of the floretis darkest in pigmentation; the pigmentation gradually spreading acrossthe length and width of the sepal and shading to a lighter color finallydisappearing into the white edges of the sepals. This gives each floretthe appearance of being white with four pink or blue fans radiating outfrom the base of the floret. The appearance of the total florescence isthat of approximately a half colored, half white flower having anunusual fluer-de-lis-like pigmentation pattern.

The sepal coloration of the seed parent `Crystal` is uniformly blue. Thesepals of the pollen parent `Silver Edge` are uniformly red except forwhite edges.

While there are other Hydrangea macrophylla plants with a colorationpattern in their sepals, none of the other known varieties have theparticular pattern of the `Frau Kinue.` The variety of plant closest incharacteristics to `Frau Kinue` of which I am aware, is thecultivar`Frau Machiko.` The parents of `Frau Machiko` are Hydrangeamacrophylla (Thunb) `Silver Edge` and Hydrangea macrophylla (Thunb)`Madam Blumkock,` seed and pollen parents respectively. `Frau Machiko`has a pigmentation pattern similar to the new cultivar in that thepigmentation radiates out from the base of the sepals disappearing towhite, but the new cultivar is distinguished from `Frau Machiko` in thefollowing ways: `Frau Kinue` is a smaller plant overall having smallerflorets (approximately one half the size of the florets of`FrauMachiko`); much fewer number of florets per inflorescence resulting in aless dense appearance; inflorescence shape is less spherical and moreflat; sepals are significantly more rounded with less tapering at thebase and apex; sepals are flat, not ruffled or wavy; and thepigmentation pattern covers--a much larger area of the sepals. The newvariety of Hydrangea as described herein is further characterized by itscompact growth habit, the ease with which it can be forced in agreenhouse, and its large, long lasting flowers that do not need to bestaked, which make it desirable for pot culture.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings consist of color photographs that show thetypical plant form, including the inflorescence, foliage, and uniquesepal pigmentation pattern. `Frau Kinue` is shown with a pink and whitesepal pigmentation pattern, but a blue and white pigmentation pattern isalso possible by maniuplation of the nutrient amendments and the pH ofthe growing medium. The colors are represented as truly as possibleusing conventional photographic procedures.

FIG. 1 is a view of the entire plant showing its form, compact growthhabit, dark green foliage, inflorescence, and unique sepal pigmentationpattern which gives a fleur-de-lis-like appearance to the florets.

FIG. 2 is a close-up view of the illustrating the unique colorpigmentation pattern, round sepal shape, and smooth edges.

FIG. 3 is a close-up view of one floret illustrating the half colored,half white unique pigmentation pattern of the sepals, round shape, flatnot ruffled shape, and smooth edge.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

`Frau Kinue` has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with varations inenvironment such as temperature, light intensity and day-length. Thefollowing is a detailed description of the new cultivar as forced underthe prevailing day-lengths at Half Moon Bay, Calif. under commercialgreenhouse conditions at a time appropriate for the sale of the cultivarin the spring. The color determinations were made with The RoyalHorticultural Society (R.H.S.) Colour Chart.

The Plant

Orgin: Seedling.

Parentage:

Seed parent.--Hydrangea macrophylla (Thunb) `Crystal`.

Pollen parent.--Hydrangea macrophylla (Thunb) `Silver Edge`.

Classification:

Botanic.--Hydrangea macrophylla (Thunb.) `Frau Kinue`.

Commerical.--Florist Hydrangea `Frau Kinue`.

Form: Upright, compact shrub.

Height: Flowering shoots reach 251/2 cm. in a 4" pot.

Growth: Upright, vigorous growth habit; when forced to bloom ingreenhouse the addition of growth regulators is necessary to controlheight.

Flowerhead: Terminal; composite rounded clusters of small florets butnot highly dome-shaped or extremely dense; composed of florets carriedon sturdy penuncles.

Stems: Colorless lenticels; lateral buds are reddish; reddish colorationabove and below leaf attachment sites.

Foliage: Abundant.

Size of leaf.--As large as 80 mm wide by 109 mm long.

Shape of leaf.--Elliptic with acute base and apex; margins are serrate.

Texture.--Glabrous; veins dominate on the underside of the leaf and aresunken on the leaf surface.

Color.--Upper side is R.H.S. 137 A (green group); under side is R.H.S.137 D (green group); veins are R.H.S. 145D (yellow-green group).

Petioles.--20 mm long.

The Bud

Form: Globose; with 4 to 5 connate petals. Buds in the very center ofthe inflorescence are non-sepalous. The majority of buds have sepals.

Size: 3 mm.

Aspect: Smooth.

Rate of opening: Buds with sepals opening more slowly than buds withoutsepals.

Color: Early green stage is R.H.S. 150 D (yellow-green group). Maturestage is R.H.S. 87D violet group.

Arrangement: Borne on 5 branched panicles.

Infloresecence

Time of blooming: Forced in approximately 80 days at 19° C nighttemperatures.

Form: Paniculate. Both sterile, sepalous florets and fertile,non-sepalous florets borne on same panicle.

Size of Inflorescence: Individual inflorescence size is dependent on thenumber of inflorescences per plant. The large inflorescences have beenmeasured with a 14 cm diameter, an an 40.64 cm. circumference on a 4bloom plant. Usually 14 cm diameter on a 3 +boom plant.

Shape: Spherical clusters of small florets; sepalous florets are flatand overlap one another. Sepals are persistent. Sepals elongate andmature as the inflorescence matures. Non-sepalous, florets areinconspicuous and hidden by sepalous florets. The inflorescence isdense.

Appearance: Showy.

Persistence: 4 or more weeks.

Fragrance: Faintly sweet.

Fruit: None.

Reproductive organs:

Stamens.--8 to 10 stamens present, usually 8. Pollen is white.

Stigma.--2-3 pronged stigma, usually 2.

Sepalous florets:

Number of sepals.--3 to 5 sepals per floret, usually 4.

Aspect of sepals.--smooth.

Shape of sepals.--Broad, more round than reinform; tapering slightly atthe base and apex which has one small notch; flat--not wavy; smoothedge--not serrated; more wide than long.

Size of sepals.--Sepals of almost equal size; not much difference insize in a four sepal floret (less than 1 cm. difference); slightly moredifference in a 5 sepaled floret. The largest sepal measured 30 mm wideby 26 mm long.

Size of one large 4 petaled floret.--49 mm. wide by 51 mm. long.

Coloration of sepals.--Approximately half white and half colored pink orblue, with the color radiating out like a fan from the base of the sepalat the center of the floret and disappearing into the white edges of thesepals. Sepal color varies from pink to blue according to the soil pHand nutrional amendments supplied. The amount of white varies somewhatdepending upon the age and location within the flower. The white edgeusually is from 5 to 10 mm wide.

Middle: 64C Red Purple Group.

Edge: 155D White Group.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct hybrid plant variety of Saxifragaceaefamily substanitially as herein shown and described.